Benefit helps co-worker

POST FALLS - The staff of Northern Idaho Advance Care Hospital in Post Falls came together Saturday and raised nearly $3,000 for one of their own.

Certified nurses' assistant Elaina Cernera was diagnosed with cancer recently and her co-workers wanted to do what they could to help foot the cost of medical bills.

Saturday's fundraiser consisted of a garage and baked goods sale, car wash and a barbecue.

Upon receiving the final tally, an emotional Cernera said "Wow, I can't believe this."

Cernera thanked the on-looking group of NIACH employees and said she better keep her sunglasses on to hide her tears as pictures were taken. "This is amazing," she said.

"It is amazing that the community and the people we work with came together like this to do something nice," said Administrative Supervisor Tammy Evanson. "They are very generous."

Some people just came to donate money and enjoy the scene, Evanson said.

"There were people that read about it in Coeur d'Alene Press and just came to show support."

At the end of the day, Walter, who was on the scene with her husband, Larry, at 6 a.m. to start setting up, put her hands together and looked to the sky and said "Thank you God," when she heard the final amount raised.

"My husband and I woke up this morning and prayed that we would have a good turn out and we got one," she said, smiling.

Fellow staffer, Registered Nurse Jenn West was also excited about the turn out.

"Elaina is a wonderful and classy gal who would give you the shirt off her back," West said.